Nagaland Post
Watch us on YouTube
www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXX No. 171
DIMAPUR, THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020 Pages 8 ` 4.00
NE faced with quarantine challenge NORTHEAST, PAGE 7
FOLLOW US ON @Nagaland_Post
nagalandpostofficial nagalandpostofficial
5 more COVID cases; state’s tally rises to 9
Trump offers to ‘mediate’ between India and China INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 6
Need to have more BS labs in state: Gov
HUGE OUTCRY AFTER RETURNEE DEPORTED BEFORE RESULT OF COVID TEST Mandatory test Correspondent
K O H I M A , M AY 2 7 (NPN): Lending credence to widespread apprehensions among public, five more from those stranded persons who returned from Chennai on May 22, were tested positive for COVID19 and taking the COVID tally in Nagaland to nine (9) as on May 27. In a shocking revelation of breach of protocol under Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), one of the five returnees whose test result was confirmed as COVID-19 positive on Wednesday, had already left Kohima for Tuensang on Tuesday by bus along other returnees. The departure of the 150 returnees by busone to Mokokchung and five to Tuensang- on Tuesday, had already sparked off outrage as they were supposed to remain under quarantine till test results were out. Hours later when test results were out by Wednesday morning, one of the returnees travelling in one of the five buses to Tuensang was tested positive for
370 stranded persons to arrive from Jaipur today DIMAPUR, MAY 27 (NPN): State government spokesperson and minister Neiba Kronu informed that a special train from Jaipur carrying about 370 stranded citizens of Nagaland was expected to arrive Lumding at around 7 a.m. on May 28. The passengers will then be ferried to Nagaland by buses, he added. He said that another special train, scheduled to depart from Goa on May 29 with around 645 stranded persons from Nagaland along with those from other North Eastern States, was expected to arrive Dimapur on June 1, 2020. With regards to the special train from Bengaluru to Dimapur, which was expected leave on May 28 with around 1600 stranded citizens from Nagaland, was deferred due to unavoidable circumstances. Meanwhile, as per report of the control room empowered group Dimapur, 52 stranded citizens reached Dimapur by train on May 27, 15 by bus from Arunachal, 10 from Guwahati, 3 from Lahorijan, 4 from Majuli Assam and 2 from Manipur by private cars.
This is it!
“Due to circumstances, let’s talk through WhatsApp instead.” K Y M C
COVID-19. This snowballed into a huge controversy as government functionaries virtually washed their hands off any responsibility for authorising the departure. There appeared to be confusion among officials with regard to SOP protocols to be followed. S t a t e g ove r n m e n t spokesperson and minister Neiba Kronu in formed Nagaland Post that the cabinet at its May 25 meeting, had made no decision about
sending back returnees before testing results were out. Kronu also disclosed that the cabinet had on Wednesday decided to make it mandatory to conduct COVID-19 tests on all returnees and will be allowed to proceed to their respective districts only after test results are out. When contacted, general secretary of Yimchunger Tribal Council (YTC) Laji Luyanba described the deportation as “discriminatory” and unacceptable.
Luyanba said when it was learnt that the returnees would be transported to Tuensang, Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) approached the chief minister to intervene but by the time the travel could be stopped, the buses had already reached Wokha. He said the H&FW department was asked to make the buses to return back to Kohima but it was not heeded to. Even the ENLU members at the COVID War Room had attempted to make the buses return but were informed that the returnees were allowed to leave after being certified as (Cont’d on p-5)
Results of 319 samples awaited
Out of 1506 COVID19 suspected samples sent for testing on Wednesday, 9 have tested positive and 1178 samples negative, while results of 319 are awaited. Fur ther, out of 48 samples tested by TrueNat machine, 47 turned out negative, while the result of one was awaited.
Nationwide tally crosses 1.5L; 4466 dead far, while over 83,000 are undergoing treatment. However, a PTI tally of figures announced by different states and union territories, till 9.30 PM, showed that more than 1.53 lakh have tested positive so far for the deadly virus infection and at least 4,466 have lost their lives. It also showed more than 66,750 having recovered. “Around 42.45 per cent patients have recovered so far,” a senior health ministry official said.
55L affected world-wide
NEW DELHI, MAY 27 (PTI): India’s COVID19 tally crossed 1.53 lakh Wednesday with more than 6,000 new cases getting detected across states, but the government said the recovery rate improved further to cross 42 per cent. The death toll also rose further.
In its morning update, the Union Health Ministry said the total number of cases has increased to 1,51,767 and the death toll to 4,337, registering an increase of 6,387 cases and 170 deaths in 24 hours since Tuesday 8 AM. It also said more than 64,000 have recovered so
Coronavirus infected more than 55 lakh people across the globe, according to John Hopkins University. The worldwide death toll from COVID-19 infection increased to 350,456. The United States recorded over 16 lakh coronavirus cases. The number of deaths in the country inched towards 100,000-mark.
before sending returnees to dists
Returnees bound for other districts and who are initially quarantined at the quarantine facilities at Dimapur and Kohima would be sent to their respective districts only after testing them for COVID-19 and obtaining the results. Mentioning that this was decided at a meeting held under the chairmanship of chief minister Neiphiu Rio at Kohima on Wednesday to discuss inter-district transfer of returnees from other States, principal secretary (home) Abhijit Sinha said health & family welfare (H&FW) department would inform the status of tests of the returnees to Kohima and Dimapur district taskforces on time, after which the districts would make the travel plan accordingly. In a letter to Dimapur and Kohima deputy commissioners, who are also chairmen of their respective district taskforces, Sinha directed that there should
Governor R.N Ravi during the meeting with senior officials on Wednesday. (Raj Bhavan)
D I M A P U R , M AY 2 7 (NPN): Nagaland Governor, RN Ravi, Tuesday emphasised the need for more Bio-Safety Level (BSL) laboratories in the state besides rigorous contact tracing. Against the backdrop of recent COVID-19 positive cases reported in the state, the governor Tuesday reviewed the preparedness of the state at a meeting with senior officials including chief secretary Temjen Toy and additional chief secretary Sentiyanger Imchen. Ravi laid emphasis on rigorous contact tracing of all those who had come in contact with the COVID-19 positive patients in the last 14 days and quarantining them either at home or institutions depending on their health symptoms. He said contact tracing and their management was (Cont’d on p-5) the most crucial preventive
protocol against spread of COVID-19. He insisted on improving the conditions of all the district hospitals, which were also the COVID-19 Hospitals. Governor praised the frontline warriors—health professionals for their dedication and selfless service to the people. He exhorted the senior officials to be in touch with them and be responsive
to their legitimate needs and apprehensions. Ravi further urged the people of the State to continue observing safety guidelines including social distancing and not to panic, not to stigmatise the COVID-19 patients and be compassionate to them. “They are our own people who have become victims for no fault of theirs,” he said.
BSL-2 lab to be set up in Tsg; TrueNat testing in all districts
S
tate government has decided to set up another Bio-Safety Laboratory 2 (BSL-2)-- in Tuensang district headquarter and also set up TrueNat testing facilities in all the districts. Informing this during the daily briefing on Wednesday, state government spokesperson and minister Neiba Kronu said that the state government through the Medical department will undertake necessary procedures to seek technical clearance from the Centre and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to setup the BSL-2 in Tuensang.
NSDMA predicts heavy NPCC says PDA has failed on all to very heavy rainfall fronts; demand dismissal of govt
DIMAPUR, MAY 27 (NPN): Heavy to very heavy rainfall activity is expected in the state over the following week, the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) has predicted and said that several other weather conditions were also likely during that period along with hefty showers. In a press release, secretary NSDMA, Lhouchalie Viya, stated that thunderstorm with lightning accompanied with gusty wind speed between 30-40 kmph was very likely to occur in Wokha, Zunheboto, Kiphire, Mokokchung, Longleng, Mon and Tuensang. However, normal rain and thundershowers would continue in the remaining parts of the state, which is expected to become intense and last for few days. NSDMA also predicted that Nagaland in the next few days would experience heavy rains and strong winds and also possibility of flash floods, and landslides. Lightning strikes would also be a common feature during this time, NSDMA said, adding that the showers were expected to continue over the state until June 7. All DDMAs and other line departments, which were responsible to attend to any emergencies caused by natural calamities, have been requested to be on alert to save lives and properties during this period. NSDMA also urged public to be vigilant during this period. Public have been reminded not to shelter under large trees and near the river banks to prevent unnecessary risk to life from lightning and flash flood.
DIMAPUR, MAY 27 (NPN): Alleging that the ruling PDA government has failed on all fronts, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) Tuesday demanded that the governor step in to salvage the situation by dismissing “this incompetent and callous government”, which it said was “only interested in clinging on to power at whatever cost.” NPCC through its communication department said that present government’s continuation in office would “only prolong the miseries” suffered by the people. Congress party alleged that sending back 169 returnees to Tuensang after just three days of institutional quarantine in Kohima in violation of its own 14-day institutional quarantine rule has once again exposed the “sheer criminal negligence” of the state government. It said that the state government, while displaying “extreme callousness” in handling
returnees from other districts, has “totally abdicated” its responsibility to the people of Nagaland. Congress also claimed that state government’s “eagerness to be held hostage by the diktats of some civil society organisations and local bodies has sliced opened the wounds of discrimination and imbalanced share of development”, which it said was visible all over the state. NPCC said it was “a great misfortune” that the people of the state were witnessing the state government in a state of total panic after repeatedly assuring that it was “well prepared” during the initials days of lockdown. “The rot in the government runs deep and this will only aggravate the lives of the citizens during this pandemic,” NPCC said, adding that the government, by its actions, seemed more concerned about saving its political face rather than save the people of Nagaland.
ENSF, WYH slam govt over sending returnees violating SOP WCH appeals to citizens D I M A P U R , M AY 2 7 (NPN): Accusing the state government of “discriminating” the returnees of Eastern Nagaland and forcefully despatching them to Tuensang violating all standard operating procedure (SOP) and protocols of COVID-19, the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has cautioned that the state government would be held solely responsible in the event of outbreak of law and order and widespread infection. In a representation addressed to the state chief minister, the ENSF president Sepili Sangtam and general secretary Imtichoba Chang demanded immediate suspension of responsible officer/person(s) behind despatching returnees of Tuensang district as per relevant section of law. ENSF said that dispatching returnees from Kohima
and Dimapur quarantine centres has put the future of Eastern Nagaland “in a very dark, stake and dangerous position”. ENSF sought to place on record the “discrimination” shown to Eastern Nagaland during this pandemic. Further, the federation demanded demand that the government immediately provide sufficient COVID-19 required equipment, ventilators, establish ICU, construct quarantine centres and post manpower in all the Eastern districts to combat the pandemic. In the event of failure to respond positively by the government, the federation said it would be compelled to take democratic steps to save the lives of people and for which the government would be held solely responsible for any eventualities. Meanwhile, ENSF has appealed the state government to “officially” acknowledge
the negligence of Eastern Nagaland in all the developmental fronts since the inception of Nagaland state. During its visit to all the Eastern districts and tribal headquarters along with six federating units, ENSF said it was found that COVID-19 district wise fund allocation was unjust and unfair. It, therefore, demanded that equal and manageable fund must be reallocated to all the Eastern districts at the earliest. The federation also demanded that the government issue “actionable Office Memorandum” and direct all its employees, particularly heads of the departments in the district to report to their respective place of posting within three days. Despite of the office memorandum issued by the chief secretary, ENSF said many officers have not reported to their place of district.
WYH asks CM to constitute probe
Expressing shock and dismay over the “irresponsible, mismanagement and barbaric treatment” meted out to the innocent returnees belonging to Tuensang district, Western Yimchungru Hoho (WYH) has appealed to the state chief minister to constitute an inquiry and take necessary action against the persons responsible for creating the mess. WYH through its media cell also condemned the health and family welfare (H&FW) department officials and those responsible for sending 169 Chennai returnees to Tuensang without following the proper protocol. Questioning the “very existence and purpose” of COVID-19 Task Force and War Room,WYH slammed “such irresponsible, in coordination and mismanage-
of Kma, Dmu and Mkg
D I M A P U R , M AY 2 7 (NPN): Against the backdrop of requests from Kohima Village Council, Agamimiepfü Metsu Krotho and Dimapur civil society groups over the issue of sending back returnees to their home districts, Western Chakhesang Hoho (WCH) appealed to citizens of Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung to be magnanimous in considering the difficulties of less developed neighbouring districts. WCH president Dietho Rhakho,said the Hoho understood the apprehensions and concern over increasing number of returning citizens and the risks involved when they were adjusted into overcrowded facility centres. He also said WCH was also aware that Dimapur or Kohima alone would not be able to accommodate (Cont’d on p-5) all the returnees. WCH
ment of returnees from different parts of the country. It particularly pointed out that COVID-19 positive patient was made to travel amongst the 168 returnees in five buses without maintaining social distancing and without segregating the returnees based on Green, Orange and Red Zones. Besides, WYH said that returnees were made to board the bus from 11:30am, but departed only after 1:30pm from the Quarantine Centre in Kohima. It also said that returnees were not provided lunch before departure or any food package for their onward journey. “Such stepmotherly treatment igniting a sense of second-class citizen of the State through the action of the concerned authority of the H&FW and Covid-19 Task Force is very
however reminded that with better position, infrastructure, manpower, medical facilities and easier access to power centres and financial resources, came greater responsibilities. WCH said it was concerned over insufficient quarantine centres and inadequate arrangements that could endanger many lives or invite chaos but nevertheless believed that the government knew best and would take necessary measures to protect its citizens. It said the safety of both the residents and returning citizens should never be compromised. WCH said called upon all “villages, colonies, tribal organisations, churches and NGOs to come forward in their own capacities to team up with the authorities, if we are to get through this pandemic.” K Y M C